With their fans cheering from the cramped sidelines, the Class 2A No. 3 Union Knights including (front row, l-r) Bianca Grimm (13), Captain Reagan Glenn (2), and Caitlyn Schneider (21) celebrate their defeat 2-1 of the Class 1A No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels in their opening match at the North Tama Volleyball Tournament on Sept. 6 in Traer. Also pictured but obscured, Chloe Sadler, Abbie Estling, and Captain Emily Anton (libero). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – The undefeated 2A No. 5 Grundy Center Spartans (9-0) volleyball team came out on top in the Redhawks Nest on Saturday, Sept. 6, winning the North Tama Volleyball Tournament in a 5-0 sweep which included taking down 1A No. 2 North Tama and 2A No. 3 Union.

The tournament was loaded with ranked teams. In addition to the hosts, Knights and Spartans, 1A No. 7 Gladbrook-Reinbeck and 1A No. 10 Dunkerton competed. AGWSR, Cedar Ridge, and HLV rounded out the eight-team competition.

Union began the morning at 9 a.m. in the cramped multipurpose gym (MPR) as part of the White Pool which included Dunkerton, G-R, and HLV. The still-undefeated Knights faced off against G-R, winning the first set 21-18 in what appeared to be a somewhat sleepy start for the Rebels who had upset North Tama 2-1 back on Aug. 26.

In the second set, G-R brought back the Rebel fire – much of that courtesy of 6-foot senior middle hitter Kennedy Brant who recorded four kills and six blocks in total against the Knights across all sets. G-R defeated Union 21-12 in the second set.

The third set platformed both teams well by featuring the discipline each powerhouse program has become known for. The Rebels won two extended rallies for point 13 and then point 14 to tie the set 14-14 before Union pulled ahead, winning 16-14 and taking the match 2-1.

Rebel senior middle hitter Kennedy Brant (4) stuffs an attack by Union’s Taylen Smith (10) on Sept. 6 in Traer during the opening match of the North Tama Volleyball Tournament. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Following Union’s win, North Tama took to the court in the main gym against unranked AGWSR (0-9-2) which, as of press time, still has not won a match this season under first year head coach Kayla Miller. North Tama was part of the Red Pool along with AGWSR, Cedar Ridge, and Grundy Center.

The Redhawks handily swept the Cougars in two sets (21-13, 21-15) although they struggled at times in the second set, allowing AGWSR to pull ahead more than once.

Across the third games of the morning, North Tama defeated Cedar Ridge 2-1 (18-21, 21-12, 15-7), while the Knights trounced HLV 2-0 (21-4, 21-5). In the fourth matches, Grundy Center swept AGWSR and Dunkerton took down G-R 2-1 (23-21, 16-21, 15-7).

The fifth matches put the Redhawks back on the court where they lost to Grundy Center in another 2-0 sweep for the Spartans (21-9, 21-14), while G-R finally claimed victory with a solid 2-0 sweep of HLV (21-10, 21-15).

During the afternoon’s bracket play, the Knights swept the tournament hosts 2-0 (25-13, 25-23) to advance to the final against the still-undefeated Spartans where Union dropped the first set 25-17 before bouncing back in the second with a firm 25-19 win. Grundy Center triumphed 15-11 in the third for the set, match, and tournament title – handing Union (9-1) its first and, as of press time, still only loss of the 2025-26 season.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER